V0.18.8 Steam Api failed to initialize

[Vavyman]

Hi guys, since latest update both my pc and my laptop have same error

Untitled.png (8.75 KiB) Viewed 4159 times

I have made chenges to desktop pc but reversed them all and persists the issue
Tested on laptop also and suddely same issue appears
laptop has not run the game since a few versions.

right now i am testing versions to see.. 0.16.51 does not present the issue
I will work backwards and install each version until issue does not persist; so far issue presents in:

0.18.8
0.18.7
0.18.6
0.18.5

it seems:
0.18.4 does not present the issue, can anyone shed any light on this?
is this when the patch for ability to log in using steam only and no longer need to log in using factorio log in credentials appeared? (0.18.5)

have tried:
1 allowing trough stateful inspection, firewall, hosts file and trusted files in anti virus :stem.exe factorio.exe and steamapi64.dll
2 disbling all protection / security
3 restarting steam
4 restarting pc
5 uninstalling factorio (steam version) and steam
6 doing a full temp, orphaned, empty file and registry cleanup to remove all traces and registries of steam and factorio
7 re-installing factorio (steam version)
8 re-installing steam

only rolling back to 0.18.4 solves the issue.
laptop has not made any system changes since before 0.18.4 and had no other software installed, no registy changes or additions

[posila]

We have updated Steam API in 0.18.5 because of macOS notarization issues. Perhaps your Steam client is outdated and doesn't work with the latest Steam API, so try to update/reinstall Steam Client.

I missed you already tried reinstalling Steam. What is your version on Windows (press Win + R, type in winver and click ok) and version of Steam Client?

Do file search for steam_api64.dll in C:\Windows folder and subfolders to make sure there isn't one in the system folder which could get loaded instead of the one distributed with Factorio.

Also post factorio log. (Press Win + R, type in %APPDATA%\Factorio, click OK, File Explorer opens and you should see file factorio-current.log)

Do you have any ideas what might be unique about your PC (as nobody else seems to have this problem), but your desktop and laptop have it in common?

[Vavyman]

Updates coming:
so this reply will have to be in 2 parts with info from both systems..

Laptop:
winver = Win10 home x64 1909 (os build 186363.657)

steam_api64.dll =

C:\Users\Vavandil\AppData\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2.2019.10.3.1\resources\app.asar.unpacked\dist\main
C:\Users\Vavandil\AppData\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2.2019.10.3\resources\app.asar.unpacked\dist\main
C:\Users\Vavandil\AppData\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive\launcher-v2.2019.10.3\resources\app.asar.unpacked\dist\main

Log File:

Laptop factorio-current.log

(5.21 KiB) Downloaded 84 times

Desktop:
winver = Win7 x64 ultimate version 6.1 (Build 7601:Service Pack1)

steam_api64.dll =

C:\Program Files (x86)\Ubisoft\Ubisoft Game Launcher
C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Launcher

Log File:

Desktop factorio-current.log

(4.77 KiB) Downloaded 103 times

it is worth noting i ran a few mods, before this all happened and after, currently i disabled them in laptop but not desktop and on laterst factorio Version issue persists regardless of mods


Similarities between systems:
so i do set up my pcs quite specifically consiidering the typical user, i am guessing its nothing special to the brainy folks that play factorio..

so things i can think of..

1 - I run a hosts file editor and a substantial host file to block bloats crap, i have tried disabling this on both systems and running

2 - the system services are heavily configured for sorta lite running, this has never affected it before and has been assessed painstakingly service by service to find out if needed for my purposes. Bear in mind w10 and w7 have different services so its not the same fruit?

3 - my av on both is the same and quite tight, it also doesn't allow stuff if you simply exit obvs so any safe hips, heuristics, behaviors need to be set and associated with files manually so if for example steam_api64.dll somehow is used differently to before it could be the av, i would need to add the file to a dmz kind of thing?... but should it be any different now since 0.18.4

4 - various softweares that use that file as you can see steam, uplay, and such arte on both pcs

5 - steam has been updated on both

6 - the new steam layout is absolutely terrible, i have reskinned it to old v using old files, I assume it is just graphical but i will undo it on one of them and see if it helps?

[posila]

Thanks for the information.

We are going to update the Steam API to the new latest version again in 0.18.9 (again because of macOS notarization process), so let's see if that changes anything for you.

6 - the new steam layout is absolutely terrible, i have reskinned it to old v using old files, I assume it is just graphical but i will undo it on one of them and see if it helps?

What Steam Client files did you replace?

Unfortunatelly, Steam API is black box to us, so we have no idea in what way is it trying to establish connection between Steam Client and the game. Nor does it report exact errors to us when something goes wrong. It would be better if you seeked help from Steam support, but I also don't think there is any realistic chance they'll try to figure it out instead of just telling you to reinstall Steam Client. So it's good old trial & error. Are you comfortable sending me Steam logs (basically entire c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\logs\ folder)? I don't know if they contain information that might be considered sensitive, and I also don't know what to search for, I'd just go throught them, and if anything weird pops up, I'd compare it with my local logs.

[Vavyman]

guys it was the steam mdifications i made.. shame becayse i do not like the new steam look.. i am now forced to use, i have retained the files in case you want them but reverted back to default steam